Multiple outlets report that European intelligence services warn Russia is stepping up covert assassination plots targeting senior executives at European defense companies. The concerns are said to include individuals connected to military production, with particular attention on executives involved in drone manufacturing and related equipment.
The warnings, attributed to intelligence briefings reported by outlets such as the Financial Times, also describe broader tradecraft. Sources say Russian services, including the GRU, increasingly coordinate with organized-crime networks for surveillance and potential “kinetic” operations. In response, European security agencies advise executives to strengthen personal security measures.
Across the reports, the stated purpose of the plots is to intimidate Ukraine’s allies and disrupt support for Ukraine by undermining the defense industrial base. The articles describe the advisories as pre-emptive and focused on personal protection and heightened vigilance rather than reporting confirmed attacks.
